それな

• Reading: それな
• Romaji: sore na
• Pronunciation: /so.ɾe.na/

Meaning

That's so true, exactly, big agree — a quick affirmation showing strong agreement with what someone just said.

それな is the ultimate agreement word in casual Japanese conversation. It is essentially 'that' (それ) + the confirmatory particle な, creating a punchy 'exactly that!' response. It requires no elaboration — just それな on its own conveys total agreement. It is the conversational equivalent of vigorously nodding. Overuse can sound dismissive, as if you are not really listening.

Examples

1. 「月曜の朝って一番つらいよね」「それな」 Monday mornings are the worst, right?' 'So true.
2. 「このカフェの雰囲気最高じゃない？」「それなー」 Isn't the vibe of this cafe the best?' 'Totally.
3. 「もう少し給料上がってほしい」「ほんとそれな」 I wish my salary would go up a little.' 'Honestly, same.

Usage Guide

Context: friends, texting, casual conversation

Tone: agreeable, emphatic, conversational

Do Say

• 「夏は暑すぎる」「それな」 ('Summer is too hot' 'So true')
• ほんとそれなー、まさにそう思ってた (Literally that — I was just thinking the same thing)

Don't Say

• 会議中に上司の発言に「それな」は失礼 (Responding to your boss with それな in a meeting is rude — use おっしゃる通りです instead)

Common Mistakes

• Overusing それな as a filler — it can sound like you are not really listening to the conversation
• Using it in written formal contexts — it is strictly casual spoken/texting language

Origin & History

A contraction of それだな or そうだな (that's right). Became a staple of youth conversation in the mid-2010s as a quick-fire agreement response. Its popularity reflects the trend toward shorter, punchier reactions in casual speech and texting.

Cultural Context

Era: Mid-2010s youth culture

Generation: Gen Z and younger Millennials

Social background: Universal youth language

Regional notes: Used across Japan. One of the most common casual agreement words, alongside わかる and たしかに.